Wing Mirror Drive with Rotation Sensor for Accurate Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wing mirror units require two separate drives for pivoting the mirror housing and fine-tuning the mirror glass, leading to increased complexity, cost, and reduced accuracy due to the need for a standard potentiometer to measure a large range of motion.
Innovation Solution
A wing mirror unit design where a single electric drive pivots the mirror housing between folded-in and folded-out positions, with a rotation sensor axis only rotated during fine-tuning, allowing for accurate measurement using a standard potentiometer by correlating a smaller angular rotation of the mirror housing with a larger rotation of the sensor axis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a standard potentiometer is used to measure a large range of motion (e.g., 300° rotation for folded-in to folded-out movement), then the measurement accuracy deteriorates because the full resolution is spread over a large angular range, but using a second drive to fine-tune the mirror glass holder position would improve accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the mirror adjustment system into two independent rotational degrees of freedom: (1) the mirror housing pivoting around a first upwardly extending rotation axis for folded-in/folded-out movement, and (2) the mirror glass holder pivoting around a second upwardly extending rotation axis for angular fine-tuning. This segmentation allows each drive to operate over a limited range with high measurement accuracy using standard potentiometers, rather than requiring one drive to cover the entire 300° range with reduced precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies multi-functionality by using the first electric drive for dual purposes: (1) pivoting the mirror housing between folded-in and folded-out positions, and (2) fine-tuning the angular position of the mirror housing within the folded-out range. This eliminates the need for a second drive while maintaining measurement accuracy, as the single drive operates over a limited angular range where standard potentiometers provide sufficient resolution.
2Measurement precision
If two separate drives are used (one for mirror housing pivoting and one for mirror glass holder fine-tuning), then measurement accuracy improves, but device complexity and cable space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functions of two separate drives into a single electric drive system. The first electric drive simultaneously performs mirror housing pivoting and angular fine-tuning by controlling the rotation of the mirror housing around the first upwardly extending rotation axis. This consolidation reduces the number of drives from two to one, simplifying the device structure and reducing cable space requirements while maintaining measurement accuracy through the use of a standard potentiometer over a limited rotation range.
3Device complexity
If a single electric drive is used for both mirror housing pivoting and fine-tuning, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement accuracy may deteriorate unless the drive rotates a large angle
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic control by enabling the first electric drive to operate in two distinct modes: (1) large-angle rotation for pivoting the mirror housing between folded-in and folded-out positions, and (2) limited-angle rotation for fine-tuning the angular position within the folded-out range. During fine-tuning, the drive rotates only within a limited angular range (e.g., ±10° or ±15° from the neutral position), which allows standard potentiometers to provide high measurement accuracy without requiring excessive rotation range. The system dynamically switches between these modes based on the required adjustment.
Data Source
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AI summary
Wing mirror unit, drive construction, and rotation sensor The invention relates to a wing mirror unit (1) for a motor vehicle. The unit comprises a mirror housing support (3) for attachment to a body (4) of the motor vehicle (2). The wing mirror unit further comprises a mirror housing (5) supported by the mirror housing support and pivotably arranged with respect to said support around a rotation axis (6) extending substantially in an upward direction. Furthermore, the unit comprises a drive, preferably an electric drive, for pivoting the mirror housing between a folded-out position of the mirror housing, in which the mirror housing extends substantially in a direction (7) away from the body of the motor vehicle, and a folded-in position of the mirror housing, in which the mirror housing projects less far and extends in a substantially rearward direction more alongside the body of the motor vehicle, and/or for pivoting the mirror housing between the folded-in position and the folded-out position. The wing mirror unit also comprises a rotation sensor (8), preferably a potentiometer, having a sensor axis (9). Said unit is arranged for rotating the sensor axis during a limited part of the pivoting route between the folded-out position and the folded-in position and/or during a limited part of the pivoting route between the folded-in position and the folded-out position.